The hotel industry is booming as America’s economic recovery continues. In 2016, hotel revenues across the board climbed more than 4% to hit nearly $200 billion — a record high. Meanwhile, STR and Tourism Economics forecast that U.S. hotels will continue chugging up the mountain over the next few years. Here are three hotel-focused REITs that pay sizable yields (up to 7%). Two of them have big upside potential while the third is proof-positive that even a bright industry has a few bad seeds...
Apple Hospitality REIT (NYSE:APLE) owns a whopping 235 hotels spanning 33 states and containing 30,000 guestrooms. These properties feature mid-upscale brands across the Hilton and Marriott families — such as Hiltons, Hampton Inns, Embassy Suites, Fairfield Inns, Homewood Suites, Renaissance Hotels and more. Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (REIT): (NYSE:RHP) does more than just typical hotels – it primarily invests in “group-oriented, destination hotel assets.” It’s actually a small base of four properties — “meeting-focused” resorts under the Gaylord Hotels brand, but those four properties combine for just over 7,800 rooms. Chesapeake Lodging Trust (NYSE:CHSP) has the highest dividend of the bunch at nearly 7%, but that’s about all CHSP really has to boast about at the moment.